Virtual browser integration

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for integrating a virtual browser into a native browser and native web applications are presented. In some embodiments, a computing device may receive a request to open a first uniform resource locator. Subsequently, the computing device may determine that the first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported. Based on determining that the first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported, the computing device may launch a hosted virtual browser application in a virtual session hosted by a virtualization server. Thereafter, the computing device may receive, from the virtualization server, first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application, and the first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application may include content associated with the first uniform resource locator. Then, the computing device may present the first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/340,028, filed May 23, 2016, and entitled“INTEGRATING A VIRTUAL BROWSER INTO A NATIVE BROWSER AND NATIVE WEBAPPLICATIONS,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entiretyfor all purposes.

FIELD

Aspects of the disclosure relate to computer hardware and software. Inparticular, one or more aspects of the disclosure relate to computerhardware and software for integrating a virtual browser into a nativebrowser and native web applications.

BACKGROUND

Enterprise organizations and their employees and other associated usersare increasingly using mobile computing devices to engage in a varietyof functions, such as sending and receiving email, managing calendarsand tasks, creating and viewing content, accessing and modifyingenterprise information, and executing other functions. As such mobiledevices are increasingly adopted and used, it is increasingly importantfor organizations to control and/or otherwise manage how such devicesare used and/or what information they can access so as to protect thesafety and security of enterprise information and other enterpriseresources. In some instances, however, this may present technicalchallenges.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure provide technical solutions that may addressand overcome one or more technical challenges associated withcontrolling and/or managing access to enterprise information and otherenterprise resources by mobile devices and/or mobile applications.

In particular, one or more aspects of the disclosure provide ways ofintegrating a virtual browser into a native browser and native webapplications. For example, by implementing one or more aspects of thedisclosure, a virtual browser may be seamlessly integrated into a nativebrowser for enabling and/or otherwise providing access to nativelyunsupported content and/or for enhancing and/or otherwise providing moresecurity. In addition, such a virtual browser may be used to enableand/or otherwise provide access to native “web” applications so as toprovide both native user experience as well as full-blown webapplication functionality.

For instance, a computing platform having at least one processor, amemory, and a communication interface may receive a request to open anatively unsupported uniform resource locator. In response to receivingthe request to open the natively unsupported uniform resource locator,the computing platform may launch a hosted virtual browser application.Subsequently, the computing platform may display graphics generated bythe hosted virtual browser application, and the graphics generated bythe hosted virtual browser application may include content associatedwith the natively unsupported uniform resource locator.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a computing device having atleast one processor, a communication interface, and a memory may receivea request to open a first uniform resource locator. Subsequently, thecomputing device may determine that the first uniform resource locatoris natively unsupported. Based on determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported, the computing device maylaunch a hosted virtual browser application in a virtual session hostedby a virtualization server. Thereafter, the computing device mayreceive, via the communication interface, from the virtualizationserver, first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application, and the first hosted browser graphics generated bythe hosted virtual browser application may include content associatedwith the first uniform resource locator. Then, the computing device maypresent the first hosted browser graphics generated by the hostedvirtual browser application.

In some embodiments, determining that the first uniform resource locatoris natively unsupported may include determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported based on at least oneenterprise policy defining one or more natively unsupported uniformresource locators. In some embodiments, determining that the firstuniform resource locator is natively unsupported may include determiningthat the first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported based ondetecting a failure to load one or more elements associated with thefirst uniform resource locator. In some embodiments, determining thatthe first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported may includedetermining that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported based on identifying that the first uniform resource locatorcorresponds to a stub application associated with a hosted webapplication.

In some embodiments, launching the hosted virtual browser application inthe virtual session hosted by the virtualization server may includeestablishing a connection to the virtualization server andauthenticating with the virtualization server using one or more cachedauthentication credentials. In some instances, authenticating with thevirtualization server using the one or more cached authenticationcredentials may include authenticating with the virtualization serverusing at least one cached single sign-on (SSO) credential linked to anenterprise user account.

In some embodiments, presenting the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application may includemaintaining a stack of browsing transitions associated with browsingactivity.

In some embodiments, prior to receiving the request to open the firstuniform resource locator, the computing device may receive, via thecommunication interface, from an enterprise server, one or moreenterprise policies, and the one or more enterprise policies may includeat least one enterprise policy defining one or more natively unsupporteduniform resource locators. Subsequently, the computing device may storethe one or more enterprise policies for enforcement on the computingdevice by at least one policy management agent.

In some embodiments, prior to receiving the request to open the firstuniform resource locator, the computing device may authenticate a userof the computing device. Based on authenticating the user of thecomputing device, the computing device may cache one or moreauthentication credentials associated with the user of the computingdevice.

In some embodiments, the computing device may receive input interactingwith the first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application and presented by the computing device. Subsequently,the computing device may send, via the communication interface, to thevirtualization server, the input interacting with the first hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application andpresented by the computing device. Thereafter, the computing device mayreceive, via the communication interface, from the virtualizationserver, updated hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application. Additionally, the computing device may present theupdated hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication. In some instances, receiving the input interacting with thefirst hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication and presented by the computing device may include updating astack of browsing transitions based on the input interacting with thefirst hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication and presented by the computing device.

In some embodiments, the computing device may receive a request to opena second uniform resource locator. Subsequently, the computing devicemay determine that the second uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported. Based on determining that the second uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported, the computing device may launch anadditional instance of the hosted virtual browser application in thevirtual session hosted by the virtualization server. Thereafter, thecomputing device may receive, via the communication interface, from thevirtualization server, second hosted browser graphics generated by theadditional instance of the hosted virtual browser application, and thesecond hosted browser graphics may include content associated with thesecond uniform resource locator. Then, the computing device may presentthe second hosted browser graphics generated by the additional instanceof the hosted virtual browser application.

In some embodiments, presenting the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application may includepresenting the first hosted browser graphics in a first tab of a localbrowser application, and presenting the second hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the additional instance of the hosted virtual browserapplication may include presenting the second hosted browser graphics ina second tab of the local browser application different from the firsttab of the local browser application. In some instances, presenting thesecond hosted browser graphics generated by the additional instance ofthe hosted virtual browser application may include maintaining a firststack of browsing transitions associated with first browsing activity inthe first tab of the local browser application and maintaining a secondstack of browsing transitions associated with second browsing activityin the second tab of the local browser application.

In some embodiments, the computing device may receive a request to opena third uniform resource locator. Subsequently, the computing device maydetermine that the third uniform resource locator is natively supported.Based on determining that the third uniform resource locator is nativelysupported, the computing device may access the third uniform resourcelocator using a local browser application.

These features, along with many others, are discussed in greater detailbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of aspects described herein and theadvantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the followingdescription in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numbers indicate like features, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative computer system architecture that may beused in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects describedherein.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative remote-access system architecture thatmay be used in accordance with one or more illustrative aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative virtualized (hypervisor) systemarchitecture that may be used in accordance with one or moreillustrative aspects described herein.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative cloud-based system architecture that maybe used in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects describedherein.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative enterprise mobility management system inaccordance with one or more illustrative aspects described herein.

FIG. 6 depicts another illustrative enterprise mobility managementsystem in accordance with one or more illustrative aspects describedherein.

FIGS. 7-9 depict examples related to integrating a virtual browser intoa native browser and native web applications in accordance with one ormore illustrative aspects described herein.

FIG. 10 depicts a method of integrating a virtual browser into a nativebrowser and native web applications in accordance with one or moreillustrative aspects described herein.

FIG. 11 depicts an illustrative computing environment for integrating avirtual browser into a native browser and native web applications inaccordance with one or more illustrative aspects described herein.

FIGS. 12A-12F depict an example event sequence for integrating a virtualbrowser into a native browser and native web applications in accordancewith one or more illustrative aspects described herein.

FIGS. 13 and 14 depict example graphical user interfaces for integratinga virtual browser into a native browser and native web applications inaccordance with one or more illustrative aspects described herein.

FIG. 15 depicts an example method of integrating a virtual browser intoa native browser and native web applications in accordance with one ormore illustrative aspects described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the various embodiments, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings identified above and which form a parthereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodimentsin which aspects described herein may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural andfunctional modifications may be made without departing from the scopedescribed herein. Various aspects are capable of other embodiments andof being practiced or being carried out in various different ways.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used hereinare for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are to be giventheir broadest interpretation and meaning. The use of “including” and“comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the itemslisted thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional itemsand equivalents thereof. The use of the terms “mounted,” “connected,”“coupled,” “positioned,” “engaged” and similar terms, is meant toinclude both direct and indirect mounting, connecting, coupling,positioning and engaging.

Computing Architecture

Computer software, hardware, and networks may be utilized in a varietyof different system environments, including standalone, networked,remote-access (aka, remote desktop), virtualized, and/or cloud-basedenvironments, among others. FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a systemarchitecture and data processing device that may be used to implementone or more illustrative aspects described herein in a standalone and/ornetworked environment. Various network nodes 103, 105, 107, and 109 maybe interconnected via a wide area network (WAN) 101, such as theInternet. Other networks may also or alternatively be used, includingprivate intranets, corporate networks, local area networks (LAN),metropolitan area networks (MAN), wireless networks, personal networks(PAN), and the like. Network 101 is for illustration purposes and may bereplaced with fewer or additional computer networks. A local areanetwork may have one or more of any known LAN topology and may use oneor more of a variety of different protocols, such as Ethernet. Devices103, 105, 107, 109 and other devices (not shown) may be connected to oneor more of the networks via twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, fiberoptics, radio waves or other communication media.

The term “network” as used herein and depicted in the drawings refersnot only to systems in which remote storage devices are coupled togethervia one or more communication paths, but also to stand-alone devicesthat may be coupled, from time to time, to such systems that havestorage capability. Consequently, the term “network” includes not only a“physical network” but also a “content network,” which is comprised ofthe data—attributable to a single entity—which resides across allphysical networks.

The components may include data server 103, web server 105, and clientcomputers 107, 109. Data server 103 provides overall access, control andadministration of databases and control software for performing one ormore illustrative aspects describe herein. Data server 103 may beconnected to web server 105 through which users interact with and obtaindata as requested. Alternatively, data server 103 may act as a webserver itself and be directly connected to the Internet. Data server 103may be connected to web server 105 through the network 101 (e.g., theInternet), via direct or indirect connection, or via some other network.Users may interact with the data server 103 using remote computers 107,109, e.g., using a web browser to connect to the data server 103 via oneor more externally exposed web sites hosted by web server 105. Clientcomputers 107, 109 may be used in concert with data server 103 to accessdata stored therein, or may be used for other purposes. For example,from client device 107 a user may access web server 105 using anInternet browser, as is known in the art, or by executing a softwareapplication that communicates with web server 105 and/or data server 103over a computer network (such as the Internet).

Servers and applications may be combined on the same physical machines,and retain separate virtual or logical addresses, or may reside onseparate physical machines. FIG. 1 illustrates just one example of anetwork architecture that may be used, and those of skill in the artwill appreciate that the specific network architecture and dataprocessing devices used may vary, and are secondary to the functionalitythat they provide, as further described herein. For example, servicesprovided by web server 105 and data server 103 may be combined on asingle server.

Each component 103, 105, 107, 109 may be any type of known computer,server, or data processing device. Data server 103, e.g., may include aprocessor 111 controlling overall operation of the data server 103. Dataserver 103 may further include random access memory (RAM) 113, read onlymemory (ROM) 115, network interface 117, input/output interfaces 119(e.g., keyboard, mouse, display, printer, etc.), and memory 121.Input/output (I/O) 119 may include a variety of interface units anddrives for reading, writing, displaying, and/or printing data or files.Memory 121 may further store operating system software 123 forcontrolling overall operation of the data processing device 103, controllogic 125 for instructing data server 103 to perform aspects describedherein, and other application software 127 providing secondary, support,and/or other functionality which may or might not be used in conjunctionwith aspects described herein. The control logic may also be referred toherein as the data server software 125. Functionality of the data serversoftware may refer to operations or decisions made automatically basedon rules coded into the control logic, made manually by a user providinginput into the system, and/or a combination of automatic processingbased on user input (e.g., queries, data updates, etc.).

Memory 121 may also store data used in performance of one or moreaspects described herein, including a first database 129 and a seconddatabase 131. In some embodiments, the first database may include thesecond database (e.g., as a separate table, report, etc.). That is, theinformation can be stored in a single database, or separated intodifferent logical, virtual, or physical databases, depending on systemdesign. Devices 105, 107, 109 may have similar or different architectureas described with respect to device 103. Those of skill in the art willappreciate that the functionality of data processing device 103 (ordevice 105, 107, 109) as described herein may be spread across multipledata processing devices, for example, to distribute processing loadacross multiple computers, to segregate transactions based on geographiclocation, user access level, quality of service (QoS), etc.

One or more aspects may be embodied in computer-usable or readable dataand/or computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more programmodules, executed by one or more computers or other devices as describedherein. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types when executed by a processor ina computer or other device. The modules may be written in a source codeprogramming language that is subsequently compiled for execution, or maybe written in a scripting language such as (but not limited to)HyperText Markup Language (HTML) or Extensible Markup Language (XML).The computer executable instructions may be stored on a computerreadable medium such as a nonvolatile storage device. Any suitablecomputer readable storage media may be utilized, including hard disks,CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or anycombination thereof. In addition, various transmission (non-storage)media representing data or events as described herein may be transferredbetween a source and a destination in the form of electromagnetic wavestraveling through signal-conducting media such as metal wires, opticalfibers, and/or wireless transmission media (e.g., air and/or space).Various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, a dataprocessing system, or a computer program product. Therefore, variousfunctionalities may be embodied in whole or in part in software,firmware and/or hardware or hardware equivalents such as integratedcircuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and the like.Particular data structures may be used to more effectively implement oneor more aspects described herein, and such data structures arecontemplated within the scope of computer executable instructions andcomputer-usable data described herein.

With further reference to FIG. 2, one or more aspects described hereinmay be implemented in a remote-access environment. FIG. 2 depicts anexample system architecture including a computing device 201 in anillustrative computing environment 200 that may be used according to oneor more illustrative aspects described herein. Computing device 201 maybe used as a server 206 a in a single-server or multi-server desktopvirtualization system (e.g., a remote access or cloud system) configuredto provide virtual machines for client access devices. The computingdevice 201 may have a processor 203 for controlling overall operation ofthe server and its associated components, including RAM 205, ROM 207,I/O module 209, and memory 215.

I/O module 209 may include a mouse, keypad, touch screen, scanner,optical reader, and/or stylus (or other input device(s)) through which auser of computing device 201 may provide input, and may also include oneor more of a speaker for providing audio output and a video displaydevice for providing textual, audiovisual, and/or graphical output.Software may be stored within memory 215 and/or other storage to provideinstructions to processor 203 for configuring computing device 201 intoa special purpose computing device in order to perform various functionsas described herein. For example, memory 215 may store software used bythe computing device 201, such as an operating system 217, applicationprograms 219, and an associated database 221.

Computing device 201 may operate in a networked environment supportingconnections to one or more remote computers, such as terminals 240 (alsoreferred to as client devices). The terminals 240 may be personalcomputers, mobile devices, laptop computers, tablets, or servers thatinclude many or all of the elements described above with respect to thecomputing device 103 or 201. The network connections depicted in FIG. 2include a local area network (LAN) 225 and a wide area network (WAN)229, but may also include other networks. When used in a LAN networkingenvironment, computing device 201 may be connected to the LAN 225through a network interface or adapter 223. When used in a WANnetworking environment, computing device 201 may include a modem 227 orother wide area network interface for establishing communications overthe WAN 229, such as computer network 230 (e.g., the Internet). It willbe appreciated that the network connections shown are illustrative andother means of establishing a communications link between the computersmay be used. Computing device 201 and/or terminals 240 may also bemobile terminals (e.g., mobile phones, smartphones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), notebooks, etc.) including various other components,such as a battery, speaker, and antennas (not shown).

Aspects described herein may also be operational with numerous othergeneral purpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of other computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with aspectsdescribed herein include, but are not limited to, personal computers,server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, network personal computers (PCs), minicomputers, mainframecomputers, distributed computing environments that include any of theabove systems or devices, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, one or more client devices 240 may be incommunication with one or more servers 206 a-206 n (generally referredto herein as “server(s) 206”). In one embodiment, the computingenvironment 200 may include a network appliance installed between theserver(s) 206 and client machine(s) 240. The network appliance maymanage client/server connections, and in some cases can load balanceclient connections amongst a plurality of backend servers 206.

The client machine(s) 240 may in some embodiments be referred to as asingle client machine 240 or a single group of client machines 240,while server(s) 206 may be referred to as a single server 206 or asingle group of servers 206. In one embodiment a single client machine240 communicates with more than one server 206, while in anotherembodiment a single server 206 communicates with more than one clientmachine 240. In yet another embodiment, a single client machine 240communicates with a single server 206.

A client machine 240 can, in some embodiments, be referenced by any oneof the following non-exhaustive terms: client machine(s); client(s);client computer(s); client device(s); client computing device(s); localmachine; remote machine; client node(s); endpoint(s); or endpointnode(s). The server 206, in some embodiments, may be referenced by anyone of the following non-exhaustive terms: server(s), local machine;remote machine; server farm(s), or host computing device(s).

In one embodiment, the client machine 240 may be a virtual machine. Thevirtual machine may be any virtual machine, while in some embodimentsthe virtual machine may be any virtual machine managed by a Type 1 orType 2 hypervisor, for example, a hypervisor developed by CitrixSystems, IBM, VMware, or any other hypervisor. In some aspects, thevirtual machine may be managed by a hypervisor, while in aspects thevirtual machine may be managed by a hypervisor executing on a server 206or a hypervisor executing on a client 240.

Some embodiments include a client device 240 that displays applicationoutput generated by an application remotely executing on a server 206 orother remotely located machine. In these embodiments, the client device240 may execute a virtual machine receiver program or application todisplay the output in an application window, a browser, or other outputwindow. In one example, the application is a desktop, while in otherexamples the application is an application that generates or presents adesktop. A desktop may include a graphical shell providing a userinterface for an instance of an operating system in which local and/orremote applications can be integrated. Applications, as used herein, areprograms that execute after an instance of an operating system (and,optionally, also the desktop) has been loaded.

The server 206, in some embodiments, uses a remote presentation protocolor other program to send data to a thin-client or remote-displayapplication executing on the client to present display output generatedby an application executing on the server 206. The thin-client orremote-display protocol can be any one of the following non-exhaustivelist of protocols: the Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) protocoldeveloped by Citrix Systems, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; or the RemoteDesktop Protocol (RDP) manufactured by the Microsoft Corporation ofRedmond, Wash.

A remote computing environment may include more than one server 206a-206 n such that the servers 206 a-206 n are logically grouped togetherinto a server farm 206, for example, in a cloud computing environment.The server farm 206 may include servers 206 that are geographicallydispersed while and logically grouped together, or servers 206 that arelocated proximate to each other while logically grouped together.Geographically dispersed servers 206 a-206 n within a server farm 206can, in some embodiments, communicate using a WAN (wide), MAN(metropolitan), or LAN (local), where different geographic regions canbe characterized as: different continents; different regions of acontinent; different countries; different states; different cities;different campuses; different rooms; or any combination of the precedinggeographical locations. In some embodiments the server farm 206 may beadministered as a single entity, while in other embodiments the serverfarm 206 can include multiple server farms.

In some embodiments, a server farm may include servers 206 that executea substantially similar type of operating system platform (e.g.,WINDOWS, UNIX, LINUX, iOS, ANDROID, SYMBIAN, etc.) In other embodiments,server farm 206 may include a first group of one or more servers thatexecute a first type of operating system platform, and a second group ofone or more servers that execute a second type of operating systemplatform.

Server 206 may be configured as any type of server, as needed, e.g., afile server, an application server, a web server, a proxy server, anappliance, a network appliance, a gateway, an application gateway, agateway server, a virtualization server, a deployment server, a SecureSockets Layer (SSL) VPN server, a firewall, a web server, an applicationserver or as a master application server, a server executing an activedirectory, or a server executing an application acceleration programthat provides firewall functionality, application functionality, or loadbalancing functionality. Other server types may also be used.

Some embodiments include a first server 206 a that receives requestsfrom a client machine 240, forwards the request to a second server 206b, and responds to the request generated by the client machine 240 witha response from the second server 206 b. First server 206 a may acquirean enumeration of applications available to the client machine 240 andwell as address information associated with an application server 206hosting an application identified within the enumeration ofapplications. First server 206 a can then present a response to theclient's request using a web interface, and communicate directly withthe client 240 to provide the client 240 with access to an identifiedapplication. One or more clients 240 and/or one or more servers 206 maytransmit data over network 230, e.g., network 101.

FIG. 3 shows a high-level architecture of an illustrative desktopvirtualization system. As shown, the desktop virtualization system maybe single-server or multi-server system, or cloud system, including atleast one virtualization server 301 configured to provide virtualdesktops and/or virtual applications to one or more client accessdevices 240. As used herein, a desktop refers to a graphical environmentor space in which one or more applications may be hosted and/orexecuted. A desktop may include a graphical shell providing a userinterface for an instance of an operating system in which local and/orremote applications can be integrated. Applications may include programsthat execute after an instance of an operating system (and, optionally,also the desktop) has been loaded. Each instance of the operating systemmay be physical (e.g., one operating system per device) or virtual(e.g., many instances of an OS running on a single device). Eachapplication may be executed on a local device, or executed on a remotelylocated device (e.g., remoted).

A computer device 301 may be configured as a virtualization server in avirtualization environment, for example, a single-server, multi-server,or cloud computing environment. Virtualization server 301 illustrated inFIG. 3 can be deployed as and/or implemented by one or more embodimentsof the server 206 illustrated in FIG. 2 or by other known computingdevices. Included in virtualization server 301 is a hardware layer thatcan include one or more physical disks 304, one or more physical devices306, one or more physical processors 308 and one or more physicalmemories 316. In some embodiments, firmware 312 can be stored within amemory element in the physical memory 316 and can be executed by one ormore of the physical processors 308. Virtualization server 301 mayfurther include an operating system 314 that may be stored in a memoryelement in the physical memory 316 and executed by one or more of thephysical processors 308. Still further, a hypervisor 302 may be storedin a memory element in the physical memory 316 and can be executed byone or more of the physical processors 308.

Executing on one or more of the physical processors 308 may be one ormore virtual machines 332A-C (generally 332). Each virtual machine 332may have a virtual disk 326A-C and a virtual processor 328A-C. In someembodiments, a first virtual machine 332A may execute, using a virtualprocessor 328A, a control program 320 that includes a tools stack 324.Control program 320 may be referred to as a control virtual machine,Dom0, Domain 0, or other virtual machine used for system administrationand/or control. In some embodiments, one or more virtual machines 332B-Ccan execute, using a virtual processor 328B-C, a guest operating system330A-B.

Virtualization server 301 may include a hardware layer 310 with one ormore pieces of hardware that communicate with the virtualization server301. In some embodiments, the hardware layer 310 can include one or morephysical disks 304, one or more physical devices 306, one or morephysical processors 308, and one or more memory 216. Physical components304, 306, 308, and 316 may include, for example, any of the componentsdescribed above. Physical devices 306 may include, for example, anetwork interface card, a video card, a keyboard, a mouse, an inputdevice, a monitor, a display device, speakers, an optical drive, astorage device, a universal serial bus connection, a printer, a scanner,a network element (e.g., router, firewall, network address translator,load balancer, virtual private network (VPN) gateway, Dynamic HostConfiguration Protocol (DHCP) router, etc.), or any device connected toor communicating with virtualization server 301. Physical memory 316 inthe hardware layer 310 may include any type of memory. Physical memory316 may store data, and in some embodiments may store one or moreprograms, or set of executable instructions. FIG. 3 illustrates anembodiment where firmware 312 is stored within the physical memory 316of virtualization server 301. Programs or executable instructions storedin the physical memory 316 can be executed by the one or more processors308 of virtualization server 301.

Virtualization server 301 may also include a hypervisor 302. In someembodiments, hypervisor 302 may be a program executed by processors 308on virtualization server 301 to create and manage any number of virtualmachines 332. Hypervisor 302 may be referred to as a virtual machinemonitor, or platform virtualization software. In some embodiments,hypervisor 302 can be any combination of executable instructions andhardware that monitors virtual machines executing on a computingmachine. Hypervisor 302 may be Type 2 hypervisor, where the hypervisorthat executes within an operating system 314 executing on thevirtualization server 301. Virtual machines then execute at a levelabove the hypervisor. In some embodiments, the Type 2 hypervisorexecutes within the context of a user's operating system such that theType 2 hypervisor interacts with the user's operating system. In otherembodiments, one or more virtualization servers 301 in a virtualizationenvironment may instead include a Type 1 hypervisor (not shown). A Type1 hypervisor may execute on the virtualization server 301 by directlyaccessing the hardware and resources within the hardware layer 310. Thatis, while a Type 2 hypervisor 302 accesses system resources through ahost operating system 314, as shown, a Type 1 hypervisor may directlyaccess all system resources without the host operating system 314. AType 1 hypervisor may execute directly on one or more physicalprocessors 308 of virtualization server 301, and may include programdata stored in the physical memory 316.

Hypervisor 302, in some embodiments, can provide virtual resources tooperating systems 330 or control programs 320 executing on virtualmachines 332 in any manner that simulates the operating systems 330 orcontrol programs 320 having direct access to system resources. Systemresources can include, but are not limited to, physical devices 306,physical disks 304, physical processors 308, physical memory 316 and anyother component included in virtualization server 301 hardware layer310. Hypervisor 302 may be used to emulate virtual hardware, partitionphysical hardware, virtualize physical hardware, and/or execute virtualmachines that provide access to computing environments. In still otherembodiments, hypervisor 302 controls processor scheduling and memorypartitioning for a virtual machine 332 executing on virtualizationserver 301. Hypervisor 302 may include those manufactured by VMWare,Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif.; the XENPROJECT hypervisor, an open sourceproduct whose development is overseen by the open source XenProject.orgcommunity; HyperV, VirtualServer or virtual PC hypervisors provided byMicrosoft, or others. In some embodiments, virtualization server 301executes a hypervisor 302 that creates a virtual machine platform onwhich guest operating systems may execute. In these embodiments, thevirtualization server 301 may be referred to as a host server. Anexample of such a virtualization server is the XENSERVER provided byCitrix Systems, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Hypervisor 302 may create one or more virtual machines 332B-C (generally332) in which guest operating systems 330 execute. In some embodiments,hypervisor 302 may load a virtual machine image to create a virtualmachine 332. In other embodiments, the hypervisor 302 may executes aguest operating system 330 within virtual machine 332. In still otherembodiments, virtual machine 332 may execute guest operating system 330.

In addition to creating virtual machines 332, hypervisor 302 may controlthe execution of at least one virtual machine 332. In other embodiments,hypervisor 302 may presents at least one virtual machine 332 with anabstraction of at least one hardware resource provided by thevirtualization server 301 (e.g., any hardware resource available withinthe hardware layer 310). In other embodiments, hypervisor 302 maycontrol the manner in which virtual machines 332 access physicalprocessors 308 available in virtualization server 301. Controllingaccess to physical processors 308 may include determining whether avirtual machine 332 should have access to a processor 308, and howphysical processor capabilities are presented to the virtual machine332.

As shown in FIG. 3, virtualization server 301 may host or execute one ormore virtual machines 332. A virtual machine 332 is a set of executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor 308, imitate theoperation of a physical computer such that the virtual machine 332 canexecute programs and processes much like a physical computing device.While FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment where a virtualization server 301hosts three virtual machines 332, in other embodiments virtualizationserver 301 can host any number of virtual machines 332. Hypervisor 302,in some embodiments, provides each virtual machine 332 with a uniquevirtual view of the physical hardware, memory, processor and othersystem resources available to that virtual machine 332. In someembodiments, the unique virtual view can be based on one or more ofvirtual machine permissions, application of a policy engine to one ormore virtual machine identifiers, a user accessing a virtual machine,the applications executing on a virtual machine, networks accessed by avirtual machine, or any other desired criteria. For instance, hypervisor302 may create one or more unsecure virtual machines 332 and one or moresecure virtual machines 332. Unsecure virtual machines 332 may beprevented from accessing resources, hardware, memory locations, andprograms that secure virtual machines 332 may be permitted to access. Inother embodiments, hypervisor 302 may provide each virtual machine 332with a substantially similar virtual view of the physical hardware,memory, processor and other system resources available to the virtualmachines 332.

Each virtual machine 332 may include a virtual disk 326A-C (generally326) and a virtual processor 328A-C (generally 328.) The virtual disk326, in some embodiments, is a virtualized view of one or more physicaldisks 304 of the virtualization server 301, or a portion of one or morephysical disks 304 of the virtualization server 301. The virtualizedview of the physical disks 304 can be generated, provided and managed bythe hypervisor 302. In some embodiments, hypervisor 302 provides eachvirtual machine 332 with a unique view of the physical disks 304. Thus,in these embodiments, the particular virtual disk 326 included in eachvirtual machine 332 can be unique when compared with the other virtualdisks 326.

A virtual processor 328 can be a virtualized view of one or morephysical processors 308 of the virtualization server 301. In someembodiments, the virtualized view of the physical processors 308 can begenerated, provided and managed by hypervisor 302. In some embodiments,virtual processor 328 has substantially all of the same characteristicsof at least one physical processor 308. In other embodiments, virtualprocessor 308 provides a modified view of physical processors 308 suchthat at least some of the characteristics of the virtual processor 328are different than the characteristics of the corresponding physicalprocessor 308.

With further reference to FIG. 4, some aspects described herein may beimplemented in a cloud-based environment. FIG. 4 illustrates an exampleof a cloud computing environment (or cloud system) 400. As seen in FIG.4, client computers 411-414 may communicate with a cloud managementserver 410 to access the computing resources (e.g., host servers 403,storage resources 404, and network resources 405) of the cloud system.

Management server 410 may be implemented on one or more physicalservers. The management server 410 may run, for example, CLOUDPLATFORMby Citrix Systems, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., or OPENSTACK, amongothers. Management server 410 may manage various computing resources,including cloud hardware and software resources, for example, hostcomputers 403, data storage devices 404, and networking devices 405. Thecloud hardware and software resources may include private and/or publiccomponents. For example, a cloud may be configured as a private cloud tobe used by one or more particular customers or client computers 411-414and/or over a private network. In other embodiments, public clouds orhybrid public-private clouds may be used by other customers over an openor hybrid networks.

Management server 410 may be configured to provide user interfacesthrough which cloud operators and cloud customers may interact with thecloud system. For example, the management server 410 may provide a setof application programming interfaces (APIs) and/or one or more cloudoperator console applications (e.g., web-based on standaloneapplications) with user interfaces to allow cloud operators to managethe cloud resources, configure the virtualization layer, manage customeraccounts, and perform other cloud administration tasks. The managementserver 410 also may include a set of APIs and/or one or more customerconsole applications with user interfaces configured to receive cloudcomputing requests from end users via client computers 411-414, forexample, requests to create, modify, or destroy virtual machines withinthe cloud. Client computers 411-414 may connect to management server 410via the Internet or other communication network, and may request accessto one or more of the computing resources managed by management server410. In response to client requests, the management server 410 mayinclude a resource manager configured to select and provision physicalresources in the hardware layer of the cloud system based on the clientrequests. For example, the management server 410 and additionalcomponents of the cloud system may be configured to provision, create,and manage virtual machines and their operating environments (e.g.,hypervisors, storage resources, services offered by the networkelements, etc.) for customers at client computers 411-414, over anetwork (e.g., the Internet), providing customers with computationalresources, data storage services, networking capabilities, and computerplatform and application support. Cloud systems also may be configuredto provide various specific services, including security systems,development environments, user interfaces, and the like.

Certain clients 411-414 may be related, for example, different clientcomputers creating virtual machines on behalf of the same end user, ordifferent users affiliated with the same company or organization. Inother examples, certain clients 411-414 may be unrelated, such as usersaffiliated with different companies or organizations. For unrelatedclients, information on the virtual machines or storage of any one usermay be hidden from other users.

Referring now to the physical hardware layer of a cloud computingenvironment, availability zones 401-402 (or zones) may refer to acollocated set of physical computing resources. Zones may begeographically separated from other zones in the overall cloud ofcomputing resources. For example, zone 401 may be a first clouddatacenter located in California, and zone 402 may be a second clouddatacenter located in Florida. Management sever 410 may be located atone of the availability zones, or at a separate location. Each zone mayinclude an internal network that interfaces with devices that areoutside of the zone, such as the management server 410, through agateway. End users of the cloud (e.g., clients 411-414) might or mightnot be aware of the distinctions between zones. For example, an end usermay request the creation of a virtual machine having a specified amountof memory, processing power, and network capabilities. The managementserver 410 may respond to the user's request and may allocate theresources to create the virtual machine without the user knowing whetherthe virtual machine was created using resources from zone 401 or zone402. In other examples, the cloud system may allow end users to requestthat virtual machines (or other cloud resources) are allocated in aspecific zone or on specific resources 403-405 within a zone.

In this example, each zone 401-402 may include an arrangement of variousphysical hardware components (or computing resources) 403-405, forexample, physical hosting resources (or processing resources), physicalnetwork resources, physical storage resources, switches, and additionalhardware resources that may be used to provide cloud computing servicesto customers. The physical hosting resources in a cloud zone 401-402 mayinclude one or more computer servers 403, such as the virtualizationservers 301 described above, which may be configured to create and hostvirtual machine instances. The physical network resources in a cloudzone 401 or 402 may include one or more network elements 405 (e.g.,network service providers) comprising hardware and/or softwareconfigured to provide a network service to cloud customers, such asfirewalls, network address translators, load balancers, virtual privatenetwork (VPN) gateways, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)routers, and the like. The storage resources in the cloud zone 401-402may include storage disks (e.g., solid state drives (SSDs), magnetichard disks, etc.) and other storage devices.

The example cloud computing environment shown in FIG. 4 also may includea virtualization layer (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1-3) with additionalhardware and/or software resources configured to create and managevirtual machines and provide other services to customers using thephysical resources in the cloud. The virtualization layer may includehypervisors, as described above in FIG. 3, along with other componentsto provide network virtualizations, storage virtualizations, etc. Thevirtualization layer may be as a separate layer from the physicalresource layer, or may share some or all of the same hardware and/orsoftware resources with the physical resource layer. For example, thevirtualization layer may include a hypervisor installed in each of thevirtualization servers 403 with the physical computing resources. Knowncloud systems may alternatively be used, e.g., WINDOWS AZURE (MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond Wash.), AMAZON EC2 (Amazon.com Inc. of Seattle,Wash.), IBM BLUE CLOUD (IBM Corporation of Armonk, N.Y.), or others.

Enterprise Mobility Management Architecture

FIG. 5 represents an enterprise mobility technical architecture 500 foruse in a BYOD environment. The architecture enables a user of a mobiledevice 502 to both access enterprise or personal resources from a mobiledevice 502 and use the mobile device 502 for personal use. The user mayaccess such enterprise resources 504 or enterprise services 508 using amobile device 502 that is purchased by the user or a mobile device 502that is provided by the enterprise to user. The user may utilize themobile device 502 for business use only or for business and personaluse. The mobile device may run an iOS operating system, and Androidoperating system, or the like. The enterprise may choose to implementpolicies to manage the mobile device 504. The policies may be implantedthrough a firewall or gateway in such a way that the mobile device maybe identified, secured or security verified, and provided selective orfull access to the enterprise resources. The policies may be mobiledevice management policies, mobile application management policies,mobile data management policies, or some combination of mobile device,application, and data management policies. A mobile device 504 that ismanaged through the application of mobile device management policies maybe referred to as an enrolled device.

In some embodiments, the operating system of the mobile device may beseparated into a managed partition 510 and an unmanaged partition 512.The managed partition 510 may have policies applied to it to secure theapplications running on and data stored in the managed partition. Theapplications running on the managed partition may be secureapplications. In other embodiments, all applications may execute inaccordance with a set of one or more policy files received separate fromthe application, and which define one or more security parameters,features, resource restrictions, and/or other access controls that areenforced by the mobile device management system when that application isexecuting on the device. By operating in accordance with theirrespective policy file(s), each application may be allowed or restrictedfrom communications with one or more other applications and/orresources, thereby creating a virtual partition. Thus, as used herein, apartition may refer to a physically partitioned portion of memory(physical partition), a logically partitioned portion of memory (logicalpartition), and/or a virtual partition created as a result ofenforcement of one or more policies and/or policy files across multipleapps as described herein (virtual partition). Stated differently, byenforcing policies on managed apps, those apps may be restricted to onlybe able to communicate with other managed apps and trusted enterpriseresources, thereby creating a virtual partition that is impenetrable byunmanaged apps and devices.

The secure applications may be email applications, web browsingapplications, software-as-a-service (SaaS) access applications, WindowsApplication access applications, and the like. The secure applicationsmay be secure native applications 514, secure remote applications 522executed by a secure application launcher 518, virtualizationapplications 526 executed by a secure application launcher 518, and thelike. The secure native applications 514 may be wrapped by a secureapplication wrapper 520. The secure application wrapper 520 may includeintegrated policies that are executed on the mobile device 502 when thesecure native application is executed on the device. The secureapplication wrapper 520 may include meta-data that points the securenative application 514 running on the mobile device 502 to the resourceshosted at the enterprise that the secure native application 514 mayrequire to complete the task requested upon execution of the securenative application 514. The secure remote applications 522 executed by asecure application launcher 518 may be executed within the secureapplication launcher application 518. The virtualization applications526 executed by a secure application launcher 518 may utilize resourceson the mobile device 502, at the enterprise resources 504, and the like.The resources used on the mobile device 502 by the virtualizationapplications 526 executed by a secure application launcher 518 mayinclude user interaction resources, processing resources, and the like.The user interaction resources may be used to collect and transmitkeyboard input, mouse input, camera input, tactile input, audio input,visual input, gesture input, and the like. The processing resources maybe used to present a user interface, process data received from theenterprise resources 504, and the like. The resources used at theenterprise resources 504 by the virtualization applications 526 executedby a secure application launcher 518 may include user interfacegeneration resources, processing resources, and the like. The userinterface generation resources may be used to assemble a user interface,modify a user interface, refresh a user interface, and the like. Theprocessing resources may be used to create information, readinformation, update information, delete information, and the like. Forexample, the virtualization application may record user interactionsassociated with a graphical user interface (GUI) and communicate them toa server application where the server application will use the userinteraction data as an input to the application operating on the server.In this arrangement, an enterprise may elect to maintain the applicationon the server side as well as data, files, etc. associated with theapplication. While an enterprise may elect to “mobilize” someapplications in accordance with the principles herein by securing themfor deployment on the mobile device, this arrangement may also beelected for certain applications. For example, while some applicationsmay be secured for use on the mobile device, others might not beprepared or appropriate for deployment on the mobile device so theenterprise may elect to provide the mobile user access to the unpreparedapplications through virtualization techniques. As another example, theenterprise may have large complex applications with large and complexdata sets (e.g., material resource planning applications) where it wouldbe very difficult, or otherwise undesirable, to customize theapplication for the mobile device so the enterprise may elect to provideaccess to the application through virtualization techniques. As yetanother example, the enterprise may have an application that maintainshighly secured data (e.g., human resources data, customer data,engineering data) that may be deemed by the enterprise as too sensitivefor even the secured mobile environment so the enterprise may elect touse virtualization techniques to permit mobile access to suchapplications and data. An enterprise may elect to provide both fullysecured and fully functional applications on the mobile device as wellas a virtualization application to allow access to applications that aredeemed more properly operated on the server side. In an embodiment, thevirtualization application may store some data, files, etc. on themobile phone in one of the secure storage locations. An enterprise, forexample, may elect to allow certain information to be stored on thephone while not permitting other information.

In connection with the virtualization application, as described herein,the mobile device may have a virtualization application that is designedto present GUIs and then record user interactions with the GUI. Theapplication may communicate the user interactions to the server side tobe used by the server side application as user interactions with theapplication. In response, the application on the server side maytransmit back to the mobile device a new GUI. For example, the new GUImay be a static page, a dynamic page, an animation, or the like, therebyproviding access to remotely located resources.

The secure applications may access data stored in a secure datacontainer 528 in the managed partition 510 of the mobile device. Thedata secured in the secure data container may be accessed by the securewrapped applications 514, applications executed by a secure applicationlauncher 522, virtualization applications 526 executed by a secureapplication launcher 522, and the like. The data stored in the securedata container 528 may include files, databases, and the like. The datastored in the secure data container 528 may include data restricted to aspecific secure application 530, shared among secure applications 532,and the like. Data restricted to a secure application may include securegeneral data 534 and highly secure data 538. Secure general data may usea strong form of encryption such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)128-bit encryption or the like, while highly secure data 538 may use avery strong form of encryption such as AES 256-bit encryption. Datastored in the secure data container 528 may be deleted from the deviceupon receipt of a command from the device manager 524. The secureapplications may have a dual-mode option 540. The dual mode option 540may present the user with an option to operate the secured applicationin an unsecured or unmanaged mode. In an unsecured or unmanaged mode,the secure applications may access data stored in an unsecured datacontainer 542 on the unmanaged partition 512 of the mobile device 502.The data stored in an unsecured data container may be personal data 544.The data stored in an unsecured data container 542 may also be accessedby unsecured applications 548 that are running on the unmanagedpartition 512 of the mobile device 502. The data stored in an unsecureddata container 542 may remain on the mobile device 502 when the datastored in the secure data container 528 is deleted from the mobiledevice 502. An enterprise may want to delete from the mobile deviceselected or all data, files, and/or applications owned, licensed orcontrolled by the enterprise (enterprise data) while leaving orotherwise preserving personal data, files, and/or applications owned,licensed or controlled by the user (personal data). This operation maybe referred to as a selective wipe. With the enterprise and personaldata arranged in accordance to the aspects described herein, anenterprise may perform a selective wipe.

The mobile device may connect to enterprise resources 504 and enterpriseservices 508 at an enterprise, to the public Internet 548, and the like.The mobile device may connect to enterprise resources 504 and enterpriseservices 508 through virtual private network connections. The virtualprivate network connections, also referred to as microVPN orapplication-specific VPN, may be specific to particular applications550, particular devices, particular secured areas on the mobile device,and the like 552. For example, each of the wrapped applications in thesecured area of the phone may access enterprise resources through anapplication specific VPN such that access to the VPN would be grantedbased on attributes associated with the application, possibly inconjunction with user or device attribute information. The virtualprivate network connections may carry Microsoft Exchange traffic,Microsoft Active Directory traffic, HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)traffic, HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) traffic, applicationmanagement traffic, and the like. The virtual private networkconnections may support and enable single-sign-on authenticationprocesses 554. The single-sign-on processes may allow a user to providea single set of authentication credentials, which are then verified byan authentication service 558. The authentication service 558 may thengrant to the user access to multiple enterprise resources 504, withoutrequiring the user to provide authentication credentials to eachindividual enterprise resource 504.

The virtual private network connections may be established and managedby an access gateway 560. The access gateway 560 may include performanceenhancement features that manage, accelerate, and improve the deliveryof enterprise resources 504 to the mobile device 502. The access gatewaymay also re-route traffic from the mobile device 502 to the publicInternet 548, enabling the mobile device 502 to access publiclyavailable and unsecured applications that run on the public Internet548. The mobile device may connect to the access gateway via a transportnetwork 562. The transport network 562 may be a wired network, wirelessnetwork, cloud network, local area network, metropolitan area network,wide area network, public network, private network, and the like.

The enterprise resources 504 may include email servers, file sharingservers, SaaS applications, Web application servers, Windows applicationservers, and the like. Email servers may include Exchange servers, LotusNotes servers, and the like. File sharing servers may include ShareFileservers, and the like. SaaS applications may include Salesforce, and thelike. Windows application servers may include any application serverthat is built to provide applications that are intended to run on alocal Windows operating system, and the like. The enterprise resources504 may be premise-based resources, cloud based resources, and the like.The enterprise resources 504 may be accessed by the mobile device 502directly or through the access gateway 560. The enterprise resources 504may be accessed by the mobile device 502 via a transport network 562.The transport network 562 may be a wired network, wireless network,cloud network, local area network, metropolitan area network, wide areanetwork, public network, private network, and the like.

The enterprise services 508 may include authentication services 558,threat detection services 564, device manager services 524, file sharingservices 568, policy manager services 570, social integration services572, application controller services 574, and the like. Authenticationservices 558 may include user authentication services, deviceauthentication services, application authentication services, dataauthentication services and the like. Authentication services 558 mayuse certificates. The certificates may be stored on the mobile device502, by the enterprise resources 504, and the like. The certificatesstored on the mobile device 502 may be stored in an encrypted locationon the mobile device, the certificate may be temporarily stored on themobile device 502 for use at the time of authentication, and the like.Threat detection services 564 may include intrusion detection services,unauthorized access attempt detection services, and the like.Unauthorized access attempt detection services may include unauthorizedattempts to access devices, applications, data, and the like. Devicemanagement services 524 may include configuration, provisioning,security, support, monitoring, reporting, and decommissioning services.File sharing services 568 may include file management services, filestorage services, file collaboration services, and the like. Policymanager services 570 may include device policy manager services,application policy manager services, data policy manager services, andthe like. Social integration services 572 may include contactintegration services, collaboration services, integration with socialnetworks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and the like.Application controller services 574 may include management services,provisioning services, deployment services, assignment services,revocation services, wrapping services, and the like.

The enterprise mobility technical architecture 500 may include anapplication store 578. The application store 578 may include unwrappedapplications 580, pre-wrapped applications 582, and the like.Applications may be populated in the application store 578 from theapplication controller 574. The application store 578 may be accessed bythe mobile device 502 through the access gateway 560, through the publicInternet 548, or the like. The application store may be provided with anintuitive and easy to use User Interface.

A software development kit 584 may provide a user the capability tosecure applications selected by the user by wrapping the application asdescribed previously in this description. An application that has beenwrapped using the software development kit 584 may then be madeavailable to the mobile device 502 by populating it in the applicationstore 578 using the application controller 574.

The enterprise mobility technical architecture 500 may include amanagement and analytics capability 588. The management and analyticscapability 588 may provide information related to how resources areused, how often resources are used, and the like. Resources may includedevices, applications, data, and the like. How resources are used mayinclude which devices download which applications, which applicationsaccess which data, and the like. How often resources are used mayinclude how often an application has been downloaded, how many times aspecific set of data has been accessed by an application, and the like.

FIG. 6 is another illustrative enterprise mobility management system600. Some of the components of the mobility management system 500described above with reference to FIG. 5 have been omitted for the sakeof simplicity. The architecture of the system 600 depicted in FIG. 6 issimilar in many respects to the architecture of the system 500 describedabove with reference to FIG. 5 and may include additional features notmentioned above.

In this case, the left hand side represents an enrolled mobile device602 with a client agent 604, which interacts with gateway server 606(which includes Access Gateway and application controller functionality)to access various enterprise resources 608 and services 609 such asExchange, Sharepoint, public-key infrastructure (PKI) Resources,Kerberos Resources, Certificate Issuance service, as shown on the righthand side above. Although not specifically shown, the mobile device 602may also interact with an enterprise application store (StoreFront) forthe selection and downloading of applications.

The client agent 604 acts as the UI (user interface) intermediary forWindows apps/desktops hosted in an Enterprise data center, which areaccessed using the High-Definition User Experience (HDX)/ICA displayremoting protocol. The client agent 604 also supports the installationand management of native applications on the mobile device 602, such asnative iOS or Android applications. For example, the managedapplications 610 (mail, browser, wrapped application) shown in FIG. 6are all native applications that execute locally on the device. Clientagent 604 and application management framework of this architecture actto provide policy driven management capabilities and features such asconnectivity and SSO (single sign on) to enterprise resources/services608. The client agent 604 handles primary user authentication to theenterprise, normally to Access Gateway (AG) with SSO to other gatewayserver components. The client agent 604 obtains policies from gatewayserver 606 to control the behavior of the managed applications 610 onthe mobile device 602.

The Secure interprocess communication (IPC) links 612 between the nativeapplications 610 and client agent 604 represent a management channel,which allows client agent to supply policies to be enforced by theapplication management framework 614 “wrapping” each application. TheIPC channel 612 also allows client agent 604 to supply credential andauthentication information that enables connectivity and SSO toenterprise resources 608. Finally the IPC channel 612 allows theapplication management framework 614 to invoke user interface functionsimplemented by client agent 604, such as online and offlineauthentication.

Communications between the client agent 604 and gateway server 606 areessentially an extension of the management channel from the applicationmanagement framework 614 wrapping each native managed application 610.The application management framework 614 requests policy informationfrom client agent 604, which in turn requests it from gateway server606. The application management framework 614 requests authentication,and client agent 604 logs into the gateway services part of gatewayserver 606 (also known as NetScaler Access Gateway). Client agent 604may also call supporting services on gateway server 606, which mayproduce input material to derive encryption keys for the local datavaults 616, or provide client certificates which may enable directauthentication to PKI protected resources, as more fully explainedbelow.

In more detail, the application management framework 614 “wraps” eachmanaged application 610. This may be incorporated via an explicit buildstep, or via a post-build processing step. The application managementframework 614 may “pair” with client agent 604 on first launch of anapplication 610 to initialize the Secure IPC channel and obtain thepolicy for that application. The application management framework 614may enforce relevant portions of the policy that apply locally, such asthe client agent login dependencies and some of the containment policiesthat restrict how local OS services may be used, or how they mayinteract with the application 610.

The application management framework 614 may use services provided byclient agent 604 over the Secure IPC channel 612 to facilitateauthentication and internal network access. Key management for theprivate and shared data vaults 616 (containers) may be also managed byappropriate interactions between the managed applications 610 and clientagent 604. Vaults 616 may be available only after online authentication,or may be made available after offline authentication if allowed bypolicy. First use of vaults 616 may require online authentication, andoffline access may be limited to at most the policy refresh periodbefore online authentication is again required.

Network access to internal resources may occur directly from individualmanaged applications 610 through Access Gateway 606. The applicationmanagement framework 614 is responsible for orchestrating the networkaccess on behalf of each application 610. Client agent 604 mayfacilitate these network connections by providing suitable time limitedsecondary credentials obtained following online authentication. Multiplemodes of network connection may be used, such as reverse web proxyconnections and end-to-end VPN-style tunnels 618.

The Mail and Browser managed applications 610 have special status andmay make use of facilities that might not be generally available toarbitrary wrapped applications. For example, the Mail application mayuse a special background network access mechanism that allows it toaccess Exchange over an extended period of time without requiring a fullAG logon. The Browser application may use multiple private data vaultsto segregate different kinds of data.

This architecture supports the incorporation of various other securityfeatures. For example, gateway server 606 (including its gatewayservices) in some cases will not need to validate active directory (AD)passwords. It can be left to the discretion of an enterprise whether anAD password is used as an authentication factor for some users in somesituations. Different authentication methods may be used if a user isonline or offline (i.e., connected or not connected to a network).

Step up authentication is a feature wherein gateway server 606 mayidentify managed native applications 610 that are allowed to have accessto highly classified data requiring strong authentication, and ensurethat access to these applications is only permitted after performingappropriate authentication, even if this means a re-authentication isrequired by the user after a prior weaker level of login.

Another security feature of this solution is the encryption of the datavaults 616 (containers) on the mobile device 602. The vaults 616 may beencrypted so that all on-device data including files, databases, andconfigurations are protected. For on-line vaults, the keys may be storedon the server (gateway server 606), and for off-line vaults, a localcopy of the keys may be protected by a user password or biometricvalidation. When data is stored locally on the device 602 in the securecontainer 616, it is preferred that a minimum of AES 256 encryptionalgorithm be utilized.

Other secure container features may also be implemented. For example, alogging feature may be included, wherein all security events happeninginside an application 610 are logged and reported to the backend. Datawiping may be supported, such as if the application 610 detectstampering, associated encryption keys may be written over with randomdata, leaving no hint on the file system that user data was destroyed.Screenshot protection is another feature, where an application mayprevent any data from being stored in screenshots. For example, the keywindow's hidden property may be set to YES. This may cause whatevercontent is currently displayed on the screen to be hidden, resulting ina blank screenshot where any content would normally reside.

Local data transfer may be prevented, such as by preventing any datafrom being locally transferred outside the application container, e.g.,by copying it or sending it to an external application. A keyboard cachefeature may operate to disable the autocorrect functionality forsensitive text fields. SSL certificate validation may be operable so theapplication specifically validates the server SSL certificate instead ofit being stored in the keychain. An encryption key generation featuremay be used such that the key used to encrypt data on the device isgenerated using a passphrase or biometric data supplied by the user (ifoffline access is required). It may be XORed with another key randomlygenerated and stored on the server side if offline access is notrequired. Key Derivation functions may operate such that keys generatedfrom the user password use KDFs (key derivation functions, notablyPassword-Based Key Derivation Function 2 (PBKDF2)) rather than creatinga cryptographic hash of it. The latter makes a key susceptible to bruteforce or dictionary attacks.

Further, one or more initialization vectors may be used in encryptionmethods. An initialization vector will cause multiple copies of the sameencrypted data to yield different cipher text output, preventing bothreplay and cryptanalytic attacks. This will also prevent an attackerfrom decrypting any data even with a stolen encryption key if thespecific initialization vector used to encrypt the data is not known.Further, authentication then decryption may be used, wherein applicationdata is decrypted only after the user has authenticated within theapplication. Another feature may relate to sensitive data in memory,which may be kept in memory (and not in disk) only when it's needed. Forexample, login credentials may be wiped from memory after login, andencryption keys and other data inside objective-C instance variables arenot stored, as they may be easily referenced. Instead, memory may bemanually allocated for these.

An inactivity timeout may be implemented, wherein after a policy-definedperiod of inactivity, a user session is terminated.

Data leakage from the application management framework 614 may beprevented in other ways. For example, when an application 610 is put inthe background, the memory may be cleared after a predetermined(configurable) time period. When backgrounded, a snapshot may be takenof the last displayed screen of the application to fasten theforegrounding process. The screenshot may contain confidential data andhence should be cleared.

Another security feature relates to the use of an OTP (one timepassword) 620 without the use of an AD (active directory) 622 passwordfor access to one or more applications. In some cases, some users do notknow (or are not permitted to know) their AD password, so these usersmay authenticate using an OTP 620 such as by using a hardware OTP systemlike SecurID (OTPs may be provided by different vendors also, such asEntrust or Gemalto). In some cases, after a user authenticates with auser ID, a text is sent to the user with an OTP 620. In some cases, thismay be implemented only for online use, with a prompt being a singlefield.

An offline password may be implemented for offline authentication forthose applications 610 for which offline use is permitted via enterprisepolicy. For example, an enterprise may want StoreFront to be accessed inthis manner. In this case, the client agent 604 may require the user toset a custom offline password and the AD password is not used. Gatewayserver 606 may provide policies to control and enforce passwordstandards with respect to the minimum length, character classcomposition, and age of passwords, such as described by the standardWindows Server password complexity requirements, although theserequirements may be modified.

Another feature relates to the enablement of a client side certificatefor certain applications 610 as secondary credentials (for the purposeof accessing PKI protected web resources via the application managementframework micro VPN feature). For example, an application may utilizesuch a certificate. In this case, certificate-based authentication usingActiveSync protocol may be supported, wherein a certificate from theclient agent 604 may be retrieved by gateway server 606 and used in akeychain. Each managed application may have one associated clientcertificate, identified by a label that is defined in gateway server606.

Gateway server 606 may interact with an Enterprise special purpose webservice to support the issuance of client certificates to allow relevantmanaged applications to authenticate to internal PKI protectedresources.

The client agent 604 and the application management framework 614 may beenhanced to support obtaining and using client certificates forauthentication to internal PKI protected network resources. More thanone certificate may be supported, such as to match various levels ofsecurity and/or separation requirements. The certificates may be used bythe Mail and Browser managed applications, and ultimately by arbitrarywrapped applications (provided those applications use web service stylecommunication patterns where it is reasonable for the applicationmanagement framework to mediate https requests).

Application management client certificate support on iOS may rely onimporting a public-key cryptography standards (PKCS) 12 BLOB (BinaryLarge Object) into the iOS keychain in each managed application for eachperiod of use. Application management framework client certificatesupport may use a HTTPS implementation with private in-memory keystorage. The client certificate will never be present in the iOSkeychain and will not be persisted except potentially in “online-only”data value that is strongly protected.

Mutual SSL may also be implemented to provide additional security byrequiring that a mobile device 602 is authenticated to the enterprise,and vice versa. Virtual smart cards for authentication to gateway server606 may also be implemented.

Both limited and full Kerberos support may be additional features. Thefull support feature relates to an ability to do full Kerberos login toActive Directory (AD) 622, using an AD password or trusted clientcertificate, and obtain Kerberos service tickets to respond to HTTPNegotiate authentication challenges. The limited support feature relatesto constrained delegation in Citrix Access Gateway Enterprise Edition(AGEE), where AGEE supports invoking Kerberos protocol transition so itcan obtain and use Kerberos service tickets (subject to constraineddelegation) in response to HTTP Negotiate authentication challenges.This mechanism works in reverse web proxy (aka corporate virtual privatenetwork (CVPN)) mode, and when http (but not https) connections areproxied in VPN and MicroVPN mode.

Another feature relates to application container locking and wiping,which may automatically occur upon jail-break or rooting detections, andoccur as a pushed command from administration console, and may include aremote wipe functionality even when an application 610 is not running.

A multi-site architecture or configuration of enterprise applicationstore and an application controller may be supported that allows usersto be service from one of several different locations in case offailure.

In some cases, managed applications 610 may be allowed to access acertificate and private key via an API (example OpenSSL). Trustedmanaged applications 610 of an enterprise may be allowed to performspecific Public Key operations with an application's client certificateand private key. Various use cases may be identified and treatedaccordingly, such as when an application behaves like a browser and nocertificate access is required, when an application reads a certificatefor “who am I,” when an application uses the certificate to build asecure session token, and when an application uses private keys fordigital signing of important data (e.g. transaction log) or fortemporary data encryption.

Integrating a Virtual Browser into a Native Browser and Native WebApplications

One or more aspects of the disclosure may incorporate, be embodied in,and/or be implemented using one or more of the computer systemarchitecture, remote-access system architecture, virtualized(hypervisor) system architecture, cloud-based system architecture,and/or enterprise mobility management systems discussed above inconnection with FIGS. 1-6. In addition, the following acronyms may beused in the disclosure: High Definition Experience (HDX); MobileApplication Management (MAM); Mobile Device Management (MDM); MobileDevice Experience (MDX); Proof of Concept (POC); Shared Secret Vault(SSV); StoreFront (SF); Virtual Channel (VC); WorxHome (WH); XenApp(XA); XenDesktop (XD); and XenMobile Server (XMS).

As discussed above, one or more aspects of the disclosure provide waysof integrating a virtual browser into a native browser and native webapplications. For example, by implementing one or more aspects of thedisclosure, a virtual browser may be seamlessly integrated into a nativebrowser for enabling and/or otherwise providing access to nativelyunsupported content and/or for enhancing and/or otherwise providing moresecurity. In addition, such a virtual browser may be used to enableand/or otherwise provide access to native “web” applications so as toprovide both native user experience as well as full-blown webapplication functionality.

In a first use case, a native browser, such as CITRIX WorxWeb, runningon a particular computing device, such as a particular user's mobiledevice, may open a uniform resource locator (URL) into an HDX virtualbrowser to provide access to unsupported content (which might, e.g., notbe displayable in the native browser on the mobile device) and/or toprovide more security (which might, e.g., not be provided by the nativebrowser on the mobile device). There may be one or more operatingassumptions underlying this first use case. For example, WorxWeb may bethe primary use case. In addition, this approach may be useful for FLASHcontent or other content that cannot be rendered by native browsers orWeb View controls on mobile devices. Additionally, this approach may beuseful for situations in which there is unmatched mobile security, asthe approach allows for handling of web content at the server backend.Further, the virtual browser might not need to redirect URLs back to thelocal application (e.g., no reverse URL redirection). As a secondary usecase, this approach also may be applied to desktop browsers likeINTERNET EXPLORER, CHROME, and/or FIREFOX.

In a second use case, a virtual browser may be used to enable and/orotherwise provide access to mobile “web” applications. For example, somemobile applications, such as WorkDay, may have limited functionalityrelative to their respective full-blown web applications. In addition,some web sites, such as the WorkDay web site, might not be designed formobile browsers. Aspects of the disclosure may allow users to access aweb application like WorkDay from the mobile device springboard. Inparticular, aspects of the disclosure may provide the user with both anative user experience and full-blown web application functionality.

In a third use case, CITRIX XenMobile MDM and MAM/MDX security mayapplied and combined with the first use case and the second use casediscussed above, so as to provide enhanced security in both approaches.

Core Implementation

In a core implementation of one or more aspects of the disclosure, whichmay represent a basic design for implementing one or more aspects of thedisclosure, a native WorxWeb application may be integrated with aVirtual Browser for select web content. In this arrangement, afull-screen HDX view may be provided. A remote browser (e.g. a remoteinstance of INTERNET EXPLORER) may be invoked via HDX for select webcontent. The remote browser may run in a kiosk mode with no chromearound it. In addition, a modified HDX Session Control user interfaceallowing a user to go back from the remote browser to a native WorxWebview may be provided. Single remote tab support also may be provided.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the architecture that may be used inintegrating a virtual browser into a native browser and native webapplications in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure.

In the deployment and configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, anadministrator may configure XenMobile server with a WorxWeb applicationMDX Policy for a White/Black list of URLs. As a secure browser, WorxWebmay be configured and/or designed to (1) have an association with URLsfrom MDX apps; and/or (2) open select URLs using StoreFront and HDXsoftware development kits (SDKs) and redirect such URLs to a virtualbrowser. In some instances, there may be one or more dependencies basedon MDX policy, SF/Auth SDK, and/or MDX SDK. Additionally oralternatively, XenApp Server may be leveraged with a published browseror XenApp Browser Server.

In the deployment and configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, an exampleruntime sequence of operations may occur as follows. First, anadministrator may configure a WorxWeb MDX application policy to define awhite list and/or black list of URLs. Second, a user may log on toXenMobile Server via WorxHome, and WorxHome may perform a policyrefresh. Third, WorxHome may push policies and/or share authenticationtokens with other MDX apps. In some instances, Shared Secret Vault (SSV)and MDX vault may be used for sharing. In addition, WorxWeb may read theMDX application policy to turn URL redirection on and/or off and toreceive the white list and/or black list of URLs. In an alternativedesign, WorxWeb and other MDX applications may independently perform apolicy refresh from XenMobile Server and also may independentlynetwork-authenticate to XenMobile Server. This approach may be referredto as “distributed authentication” without WorxHome as a single masterapplication.

Referring again to the example runtime sequence of operations in thedeployment and configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, at a fourth step, auser may open an unsupported URL. Fifth, WorxWeb may use a StoreFrontSDK to talk to StoreFront. This may include authentication using ashared authentication token, sending an application launch request, andobtained an ICA file (which may, e.g., describe the properties of an HDXconnection to be launched, such as the server address and/or initialapplication, such as INTERNET EXPLORER).

Sixth, WorxWeb may launch an HDX Virtual Browser application. This mayinclude launching an HDX connection based on the obtained ICA file andusing a control virtual channel to launch an application and supplyparameters (e.g., supply application, e.g., path to INTERNET EXPLORER).In addition, parameters may be appended, for example, indicating theredirected URL to launch and/or indicating to run an application in“kiosk” mode, as discussed in greater detail below.

Seventh, WorxWeb may preview virtual web content. This may includedisplaying HDX graphics from the remote application (e.g. INTERNETEXPLORER running in kiosk mode with content from the redirected URLopened by the remote browser). A back button may be provided to enablethe user to return to local web browsing. Additionally or alternatively,local HDX session controls may enable the user to exit a preview of theURL in the virtual browser.

Subsequently, at an eighth step, the user may select the back button orclose preview button. This may return the user and the processing tolocal WorxWeb browsing.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example of integrating a virtual browser intoa native browser and native web applications in accordance with one ormore aspects of the disclosure. In particular, in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 8, FLASH content may be presented in the mobileapplication browser. The example illustrated in FIG. 8 is similar to theexample illustrated in FIG. 7, but in the example illustrated in FIG. 8,an HDX preview of FLASH content is presented in the native WorxWebapplication (which, e.g., might not normally be allowed on mobileplatforms).

In some instances, Kiosk Mode of INTERNET EXPLORER may be used inimplementing one or more aspects of the disclosure. When INTERNETEXPLORER is run in kiosk mode, the title bar, menus, toolbars, andstatus bar might not be displayed, and the browser may run in fullscreen mode. When implementing aspects of the disclosure using otherbrowsers that might not support a similar kiosk mode, the facilities ofthe HDX Seamless VC protocol may be used to distinguish between clientand non-client window areas. In this way, WorxWeb may remove thenon-client areas of the remote browser from the local graphics displayand might only show the client areas (which may, e.g., include the webcontent).

Extended Design

In an extended design implementation of one or more aspects of thedisclosure, one or more additional advanced features, discussed below,may be combined with one or more of the features discussed above inintegrating a virtual browser into a native browser and native webapplications.

For example, one advanced feature that may be included is complex HDXview resizing. In particular, in previewing the remote browser, WorxWebmay offer different user experience options to the user for panning andscaling. For example, a full screen (fit to screen) option withautomatic scaling of the remote session if necessary may be provided.Additionally or alternatively, an actual remote session size plusscrollbars option may be provided. Additionally or alternatively, apercentage of remote session size plus scrollbars option may beprovided.

Another advanced feature that may be included is local user interfacecontrols for mixed local and remote browsing. When implementing thisfeature, the goal may be to enable the user to browse local and remoteURLs seamlessly without noticing that some URLs are handled locally viathe native WebView control, while others are handled remotely via thepublished browser. This seamless experience may also apply to userinterface button controls such as Back, Forward, and/or the like.WorxWeb might only present local user interface button controls, whichmay redirect their actions to either the native WebView control or thepublished browser window controls depending on context. In someinstances, for this to happen, WorxWeb might need to keep track of thehistory of URL transitions. A data structure may be used to store anarray of objects containing: URL link; a boolean indicating local vs.remote handling of the URL; and a current number and/or pointer in thesequence of URL transitions (e.g., combined local and remote stack).

To obtain details on URL link transitions actually occurring in theremote browser, a Browser Helper Object (BHO) or other browser-dependentplugin may be used in the remote browser to communicate this metadata toWorxWeb over an HDX VC. In addition, WorxWeb may control remote backand/or forward operations via local back and/or forward controls thatare designed to send a keyboard shortcut via an HDX VC to the remotebrowser (e.g. Alt-Left-Arrow-Key and Alt-Right-Arrow-Key, respectively).Depending on the context with the browsing history (e.g., using the datastructure discussed above), the same local back and/or forward controlsmay apply to the local WebView control browsing session.

In some instances, a simplifying assumption may be made that there is noURL redirection from the remote browser back to the local browser, otherthan backtracking with the Back button. When using this assumption, theactual remote URL links being opened might not need to be communicated,and instead only the act of remote URL transitions might becommunicated.

Another advanced feature that may be included is multi-tab support for aremote browser. When implementing this feature, there may be no HDXsession sharing in some instances. For example, each tab may be handledwithin a separate HDX session and there might not be a need to keeptrack of separate remote processes. The designs discussed above may beapplied per each separate tab. Some disadvantages with this approach maybe that XenApp Server scalability may be impacted, and the initial HDXconnect time for each separate session may be longer.

In other instances, when implementing multi-tab support for a remotebrowser, there may be HDX session sharing. For example, separate remotebrowsers may be launched in the same HDX session for each local tab andmay be tracked via existing seamless VC protocol (which may, e.g.,provide a complete hierarchy of published applications and correspondingtrees of remote processes and windows). This approach may be morecomplex, but it may favor XenApp Server scalability as well asinstantaneous launch time for each subsequent browser after the initiallaunch.

In some arrangements, a browser plugin may be provided to extend anative browser. In particular, WorxWeb may be considered a native custombrowser for mobile platforms. The same concept may be applied to nativebrowsers for desktop operating systems. For example, URLs may beredirected to a remote hosted browser by means of browser plugins forINTERNET EXPLORER, CHROME, and/or FIREFOX when running on a WINDOWSoperating system, MAC OS X operating system, and/or LINUX operatingsystem. Such a browser plugin may use CTRIX HTML5 Receiver for remotingand may be enhanced with a custom VC for controlling the remote browseras discussed above.

In some arrangements, mobile “web” application features may be provided.For example, to achieve a mobile “web” application (e.g., WorkDay onmobile device springboard), a combination or crosspollination of theWorxWeb with embedded HDX Browser design discussed above and the mobileHDX native applications design might be required. In providing HDXnative applications on a mobile device springboard, a template HDX SDKapplication may be customized to look and feel like a specific nativeapplication corresponding to a published application (e.g., MicrosoftWORD).

For example, an HDX native application may be deployed on thespringboard via MDM or MAM. Such an application may be preconfiguredfrom a template HDX application to contain the icon of MICRSOFT Word(e.g., as a corresponding published app) and file type associations(FTAs) corresponding to DOC and DOCX. The application also may bepreconfigured to launch an HDX session to a published and/or remoteinstance of MICROSOFT word when starting the native application.

In implementing one or more aspects of the disclosure, a templateWorxWeb application may be configured with the icon of the WorkDay webapplication and may be further configured, upon start, to launch an HDXsession to a published and/or remote browser with a URL pointing to theWorkDay web application. In this way, the user may be provided with botha native user experience and full-blown web application functionality.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a mobile “web” application inaccordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 depicts a method of integrating a virtual browser into a nativebrowser and native web applications in accordance with one or moreillustrative aspects described herein. In some embodiments, the methodillustrated in FIG. 10 may be performed by a computing platform thatincorporates, utilizes and/or includes one or more elements of thecomputer system architecture, remote-access system architecture,virtualized (hypervisor) system architecture, cloud-based systemarchitecture, and/or enterprise mobility management systems discussedabove in connection with FIGS. 1-6. For example, the method illustratedin FIG. 10 may be executed by a computing platform having at least oneprocessor, a memory, and a communication interface. At step 1005, thecomputing platform may receive a request to open a natively unsupporteduniform resource locator. At step 1010, in response to receiving therequest to open the natively unsupported uniform resource locator, thecomputing platform may launch a hosted virtual browser application. Atstep 1015, the computing platform may display graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application, and the graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application may include content associated withthe natively unsupported uniform resource locator.

FIG. 11 depicts an illustrative computing environment for integrating avirtual browser into a native browser and native web applications inaccordance with one or more illustrative aspects described herein.Referring to FIG. 11, computing environment 1100 may include a usercomputing device 1110, enterprise server infrastructure 1120,virtualization server infrastructure 1130, and a network 1150. Usercomputing device 1110, enterprise server infrastructure 1120, andvirtualization server infrastructure 1130 may include one or morephysical components, such as one or more processors, memories,communication interfaces, and/or the like. In addition, user computingdevice 1110 may include, incorporate, and/or implement one or moreaspects of the client devices, mobile devices, and/or user devicesdiscussed above. Enterprise server infrastructure 1120 may include,incorporate, and/or implement one or more aspects of the enterprisesystems and/or management servers discussed above. Virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130 may include, incorporate, and/or implement one ormore aspects of the virtualization servers and/or other virtualizationinfrastructure discussed above.

For example, user computing device 1110 may include a processor 1111,memory 1112, and communication interface 1114. Processor 1111 mayexecute instructions stored in memory 1112 to cause user computingdevice 1110 to perform one or more functions, such as executing anoperating system and/or one or more applications, including a localbrowser application (which may, e.g., also be referred to as a “localbrowser” or “native browser”) that may provide browsing functionality.Memory 1112 may store a local browser application 1113, which mayinclude, incorporate, and/or implement one or more aspects of the secureand/or managed browser application discussed above (e.g., managedbrowser application 610) and which may provide browsing functionality,as illustrated in greater detail below. Communication interface 1114 mayinclude one or more network interfaces via which user computing device1110 can communicate with one or more other systems and/or devices incomputing environment 1100, such as enterprise server infrastructure1120, virtualization server infrastructure 1130, and/or one or moreother systems and/or devices.

Enterprise server infrastructure 1120 may include and/or provide one ormore policy management systems 1121 via which one or more mobile devicemanagement policies, mobile application management policies, and/orother enterprise policies may be defined, applied, enforced, updated,disabled, and/or otherwise controlled (e.g., with respect to one or moremanaged devices, including one or more managed user mobile devices).Virtualization server infrastructure 1130 may include, execute, and/orprovide a hosted browser application 1131 (which may, e.g., be a remoteand/or virtual application, similar to the hosted, remoted, and/orvirtualized applications discussed above, and which may, e.g., be usedto render and/or provide natively unsupported content to one or moreuser devices, as illustrated in greater detail below). Network 1150 mayinclude one or more local area networks, wide area networks, publicnetworks, private networks, and/or sub-networks and may interconnectuser computing device 1110, enterprise server infrastructure 1120,virtualization server infrastructure 1130.

FIGS. 12A-12F depict an example event sequence for integrating a virtualbrowser into a native browser and native web applications in accordancewith one or more illustrative aspects described herein. Referring toFIG. 12A, at step 1201, enterprise server infrastructure 1120 mayreceive input defining one or more policies (e.g., from one or morepolicy administrators and/or other administrative users). For example,enterprise server infrastructure 1120 may receive input defining one ormore mobile device management policies, one or more mobile deviceapplication policies, and/or one or more other enterprise policies(which may, e.g., be specific to and/or otherwise associated with anorganization operating enterprise server infrastructure 1120, such as anenterprise organization with which a user of user computing device 1110is employed by and/or otherwise associated with). In some instances, theone or more policies defined at step 1201 may specify one or morenatively unsupported uniform resource locators that are to be opened ona hosted browser instead of a local browser, as illustrated in greaterdetail below.

At step 1202, enterprise server infrastructure 1120 may provision one ormore user devices (e.g., based on the one or more policies defined atstep 1201). For example, at step 1202, enterprise server infrastructure1120 may send one or more new policies and/or policy updates to one ormore user devices, including user computing device 1110 and/or one ormore other user devices, to provision such user devices with the one ormore policies.

At step 1203, user computing device 1110 may receive one or morepolicies from enterprise server infrastructure 1120. For example, atstep 1203, user computing device 1110 may receive, via a communicationinterface (e.g., communication interface 1114), from an enterpriseserver (e.g., enterprise server infrastructure 1120), one or moreenterprise policies, and the one or more enterprise policies may includeat least one enterprise policy defining one or more natively unsupporteduniform resource locators. As illustrated in greater detail below,enforcing such an enterprise policy may direct, control, and/orotherwise cause user computing device 1110 to launch a hosted browsersession when such a natively unsupported uniform resource locator isrequested on user computing device 1110, so as to enable contentcorresponding to the natively unsupported uniform resource locator to beremotely rendered in a hosted session (e.g., by virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130) and locally displayed on the user device (e.g.,user computing device 1110).

At step 1204, user computing device 1110 may store the one or morepolicies received from enterprise server infrastructure 1120. Forexample, at step 1204, user computing device 1110 may store the one ormore enterprise policies for enforcement on the computing device (e.g.,user computing device 1110) by at least one policy management agent.Such a policy management agent may be run on and/or be executed by usercomputing device 1110 and may include, incorporate, and/or implement oneor more aspects of the client agent discussed above (e.g., client agent604). Additionally or alternatively, such a policy management agent maybe integrated into a local browser on user computing device 1110 and/oran enterprise portal application on user computing device 1110 (e.g.,into which such a local browser itself may be integrated).

Referring to FIG. 12B, at step 1205, user computing device 1110 mayauthenticate a user of user computing device 1110. For example, at step1205, user computing device 1110 may authenticate a user of thecomputing device (e.g., user computing device 1110). User computingdevice 1110 may authenticate the user based on validating a usernameentered by the user, a password entered by the user, biometric inputprovided by the user, and/or other input provided by the user. At step1206, user computing device 1110 may cache one or more credentialslinked to and/or otherwise associated with the user authenticated atstep 1205. For example, at step 1206, based on authenticating the userof the computing device (e.g., user computing device 1110), usercomputing device 1110 may cache one or more authentication credentialsassociated with the user of the computing device (e.g., user computingdevice 1110). In caching the one or more authentication credentialsassociated with the user of the computing device (e.g., user computingdevice 1110), user computing device 1110 may store in a keychain and/orotherwise cache one or more single sign-on (SSO) credentials linked toan enterprise user account associated with the user of the computingdevice (e.g., user computing device 1110). In some instances, such asingle sign-on (SSO) credential may be usable by user computing device1110 and/or enable user computing device 1110 to login to avirtualization server, such as virtualization server infrastructure1130, and initiate a hosted browser session linked to the enterpriseuser account.

At step 1207, user computing device 1110 may receive a request for afirst uniform resource locator. For example, at step 1207, usercomputing device 1110 may receive a request to open a first uniformresource locator. Such a request may, for instance, correspond to and/orbe included in user input received from a user of user computing device1110. At step 1208, user computing device 1110 may determine that thefirst uniform resource locator is natively unsupported. For example, atstep 1208, user computing device 1110 may determine that the firstuniform resource locator is natively unsupported based on one or morepolicies and/or other information maintained and/or determined by usercomputing device 1110.

In some embodiments, determining that the first uniform resource locatoris natively unsupported may include determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported based on at least oneenterprise policy defining one or more natively unsupported uniformresource locators. For example, in determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported, user computing device 1110 maydetermine that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported based on at least one enterprise policy defining one or morenatively unsupported uniform resource locators. Such an enterprisepolicy may, for instance, define a blacklist and/or whitelist ofnatively unsupported uniform resource locators, natively supporteduniform resource locators, and/or other uniform resource locators. Inaddition, user computing device 1110 may, for instance, determine thatthe first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported based on thefirst uniform resource locator being identified by the at least oneenterprise policy and/or included in a list of natively unsupporteduniform resource locators specified by the at least one enterprisepolicy, and this determination may cause user computing device 1110 tolaunch a hosted session for rendering content associated with the firstuniform resource locator, as illustrated in greater detail below.

In some embodiments, determining that the first uniform resource locatoris natively unsupported may include determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported based on detecting a failure toload one or more elements associated with the first uniform resourcelocator. For example, in determining that the first uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported, user computing device 1110 maydetermine that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported based on user computing device 1110 detecting a failure toload one or more elements associated with the first uniform resourcelocator. For instance, user computing device 1110 initially may attemptto access to the first uniform resource locator and subsequently maydetect that one or more content items, scripts, plug-ins, and/or otherelements associated with the first uniform resource locator cannot beloaded and/or are otherwise failing to load. In response to detectingthat the one or more content items, scripts, plug-ins, and/or otherelements associated with the first uniform resource locator cannot beloaded and/or are otherwise failing to load, user computing device 1110may determine that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported (which may, e.g., cause user computing device 1110 to launcha hosted session for rendering content associated with the first uniformresource locator, as illustrated in greater detail below).

In some embodiments, determining that the first uniform resource locatoris natively unsupported may include determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported based on identifying that thefirst uniform resource locator corresponds to a stub applicationassociated with a hosted web application. For example, in determiningthat the first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported, usercomputing device 1110 may determine that the first uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported based on identifying that the firstuniform resource locator corresponds to a stub application associatedwith a hosted web application. Such a stub application may, forinstance, be configured to open the first uniform resource locator in alocal browser and may include one or more command-line options and/orother embedded commands that may cause the local browser to identify thefirst uniform resource locator as natively unsupported, which in turnmay cause user computing device 1110 to launch a hosted session forrendering content associated with the first uniform resource locator, asillustrated in greater detail below.

Referring to FIG. 12C, at step 1209, user computing device 1110 mayconnect to virtualization server infrastructure 1130 (e.g., in responseto and/or otherwise based on determining that the first uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported at step 1208). At step 1210, usercomputing device 1110 may launch a hosted browser in a hosted session(e.g., by directing, commanding, and/or otherwise controllingvirtualization server infrastructure 1130 to launch an instance of ahosted browser in a hosted session being provided by virtualizationserver infrastructure 1130). For example, at step 1210, based ondetermining that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported, user computing device 1110 may launch a hosted virtualbrowser application (e.g., hosted browser application 1131) in a virtualsession hosted by a virtualization server (e.g., virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130).

In some embodiments, launching the hosted virtual browser application inthe virtual session hosted by the virtualization server may includeestablishing a connection to the virtualization server andauthenticating with the virtualization server using one or more cachedauthentication credentials. For example, in launching the hosted virtualbrowser application in the virtual session hosted by the virtualizationserver (e.g., virtualization server infrastructure 1130), user computingdevice 1110 may establish a connection to the virtualization server(e.g., virtualization server infrastructure 1130) and authenticate withthe virtualization server (e.g., virtualization server infrastructure1130) using one or more cached authentication credentials (e.g., thecredentials cached at step 1206).

In some embodiments, authenticating with the virtualization server usingthe one or more cached authentication credentials may includeauthenticating with the virtualization server using at least one cachedsingle sign-on (SSO) credential linked to an enterprise user account.For example, in authenticating with the virtualization server (e.g.,virtualization server infrastructure 1130) using the one or more cachedauthentication credentials (e.g., at step 1210), user computing device1110 may authenticate with the virtualization server using at least onecached single sign-on (SSO) credential linked to an enterprise useraccount. For instance, user computing device 1110 may authenticate withthe virtualization server using at least one cached single sign-on (SSO)credential linked to an enterprise user account by submitting such anSSO credential to virtualization server infrastructure 1130 forvalidation, and the SSO credential may have been cached by usercomputing device 1110 at step 1206, as discussed above. Additionally oralternatively, the SSO credential may be linked to an enterprise useraccount that is associated with the user of user computing device 1110and that allows the user of user computing device 1110 to selectivelyaccess one or more protected enterprise resources, such as an enterpriseapplication store, an enterprise file sharing platform, an enterprisecloud storage platform, and/or other enterprise resources.

At step 1211, user computing device 1110 may receive hosted browsergraphics from virtualization server infrastructure 1130. For example, atstep 1211, user computing device 1110 may receive, via the communicationinterface (e.g., communication interface 1114), from the virtualizationserver (e.g., virtualization server infrastructure 1130), first hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application(e.g., hosted browser application 1131). In addition, the first hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application(e.g., hosted browser application 1131) may include content associatedwith the first uniform resource locator. Thus, hosted browserapplication 1131 on virtualization server infrastructure 1130 may accessand/or render the content associated with the first uniform resourcelocator that is natively unsupported on user computing device 1110, andsubsequently, hosted browser application 1131 on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130 may send the rendered content associated with thefirst uniform resource locator to user computing device 1110 for display(e.g., in a local browser on user computing device 1110, such as inlocal browser application 1113).

At step 1212, user computing device 1110 may present the hosted browsergraphics received from virtualization server infrastructure 1130. Forexample, at step 1212, user computing device 1110 may present the firsthosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication (e.g., hosted browser application 1131 executing onvirtualization server infrastructure 1130). In presenting the hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application,user computing device 1110 may display and/or otherwise present agraphical user interface similar to graphical user interface 1300, whichis illustrated in FIG. 13. As seen in FIG. 13, graphical user interface1300 may include user interface elements, controls, and/or other contentassociated with a local browser application (e.g., tab listing, backbutton, forward button, and/or other elements) and also hosted browsergraphics rendered by a hosted browser on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130 and displayed by the local browser application onuser computing device 1110.

In some embodiments, presenting the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application may includemaintaining a stack of browsing transitions associated with browsingactivity. For example, in presenting the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application (e.g., hostedbrowser application 1131 executing on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130), user computing device 1110 may maintain a stack ofbrowsing transitions associated with browsing activity. In maintaining astack of browsing transitions associated with browsing activity, usercomputing device 1110 may track and/or store information identifyingpages accessed and/or transitions between pages, including localbrowsing activity in the local browser executing on user computingdevice 1110 and remote browsing activity in the hosted virtual browserexecuting on virtualization server infrastructure 1130. User computingdevice 1110 may maintain such a stack of browsing transitions to enableback and/or forward navigation functionality, history trackingfunctionality, and/or other functionality in the local browser and/or inthe hosted browser. In some instances, such a stack of browsingtransitions may similarly be maintained on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130 in addition to or instead of the stack of browsingtransitions that may be maintained on user computing device 1110.

Referring to FIG. 12D, at step 1213, user computing device 1110 mayreceive input (e.g., from the user of user computing device 1110)interacting with the hosted browser graphics (which may, e.g., bepresented by the local browser executing on user computing device 1110).For example, at step 1213, user computing device 1110 may receive inputinteracting with the first hosted browser graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application (e.g., hosted browser application1131 executing on virtualization server infrastructure 1130) andpresented by the computing device (e.g., user computing device 1110).Such input may, for instance, include a user invoking and/or otherwiseselecting a link included in the hosted browser graphics, interactingwith a form or other control included in the hosted browser graphics,and/or otherwise interacting with an element included in the hostedbrowser graphics.

In some embodiments, receiving the input interacting with the firsthosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication and presented by the computing device may include updating astack of browsing transitions based on the input interacting with thefirst hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication and presented by the computing device. For example, inreceiving the input interacting with the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application (e.g., hostedbrowser application 1131 executing on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130) and presented by the computing device (e.g., usercomputing device 1110), user computing device 1110 may update a stack ofbrowsing transitions based on the input interacting with the firsthosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication (e.g., hosted browser application 1131 executing onvirtualization server infrastructure 1130) and presented by thecomputing device (e.g., user computing device 1110). For instance, ifthe input includes a selection of a link and/or a transition to a newpage associated with the link, user computing device 1110 may update thestack of browsing transitions to include information identifying theselection of the link and/or the transition to the new page associatedwith the link.

At step 1214, user computing device 1110 may send the input interactingwith the hosted browser graphics to virtualization server infrastructure1130. For example, at step 1214, user computing device 1110 may send,via the communication interface (e.g., communication interface 1114), tothe virtualization server (e.g., virtualization server infrastructure1130), the input interacting with the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application (e.g., hostedbrowser application 1131 executing on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130) and presented by the computing device (e.g., usercomputing device 1110). At step 1215, user computing device 1110 mayreceive updated browser graphics from virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130. For example, at step 1215, user computing device1110 may receive, via the communication interface (e.g., communicationinterface 1114), from the virtualization server (e.g., virtualizationserver infrastructure 1130), updated hosted browser graphics generatedby the hosted virtual browser application (e.g., hosted browserapplication 1131 executing on virtualization server infrastructure1130). For instance, hosted browser application 1131 executing onvirtualization server infrastructure 1130 may render and/or otherwisegenerate updated graphics based on the input received from usercomputing device 1110 and subsequently may send such updated graphicsback to user computing device 1110 for display. At step 1216, usercomputing device 1110 may present the updated browser graphics receivedfrom virtualization server infrastructure 1130. For example, at step1216, user computing device 1110 may present the updated hosted browsergraphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application (e.g.,hosted browser application 1131 executing on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130).

Referring to FIG. 12E, at step 1217, user computing device 1110 mayreceive a request for a second uniform resource locator. For example, atstep 1217, user computing device 1110 may receive a request to open asecond uniform resource locator. Such a request may, for instance,correspond to and/or be included in user input received from a user ofuser computing device 1110. In some instances, user computing device1110 may receive a request to open the second uniform resource locatorin a new tab different from the tab in which the hosted graphicsassociated with the first uniform resource locator are presented.Additionally or alternatively, user computing device 1110 may trackcontent displayed on and/or browsing transitions between different tabsof the local browser executed on user computing device 1110.

At step 1218, user computing device 1110 may determine that the seconduniform resource locator is natively unsupported. For example, at step1218, user computing device 1110 may determine that the second uniformresource locator is natively unsupported similar to how user computingdevice 1110 determined that the first uniform resource locator wasnatively unsupported (e.g., based on one or more policies, based ondetecting a failure to load, based on identifying that the seconduniform resource locator corresponds to a stub application associatedwith a hosted web application, and/or based on other informationmaintained and/or determined by user computing device 1110).

At step 1219, user computing device 1110 may launch an additionalinstance of the hosted browser in the hosted session (e.g., bydirecting, commanding, and/or otherwise controlling virtualizationserver infrastructure 1130 to launch another instance of the hostedbrowser in the hosted session being provided by virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130). For example, at step 1219, based on determiningthat the second uniform resource locator is natively unsupported, usercomputing device 1110 may launch an additional instance of the hostedvirtual browser application (e.g., hosted browser application 1131) inthe virtual session hosted by the virtualization server (e.g.,virtualization server infrastructure 1130).

At step 1220, user computing device 1110 may receive hosted browsergraphics from virtualization server infrastructure 1130. For example, atstep 1220, user computing device 1110 may receive, via the communicationinterface (e.g., communication interface 1114), from the virtualizationserver (e.g., virtualization server infrastructure 1130), second hostedbrowser graphics generated by the additional instance of the hostedvirtual browser application (e.g., hosted browser application 1131). Inaddition, the second hosted browser graphics may include contentassociated with the second uniform resource locator. Thus, like with thefirst uniform resource locator, hosted browser application 1131 onvirtualization server infrastructure 1130 may access and/or render thecontent associated with the second uniform resource locator that isnatively unsupported on user computing device 1110, and subsequently,hosted browser application 1131 on virtualization server infrastructure1130 may send the rendered content associated with the second uniformresource locator to user computing device 1110 for display (e.g., in thelocal browser on user computing device 1110, such as in local browserapplication 1113).

Referring to FIG. 12F, at step 1221, user computing device 1110 maypresent the hosted browser graphics received from virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130. For example, at step 1221, user computing device1110 may present the second hosted browser graphics generated by theadditional instance of the hosted virtual browser application (e.g.,hosted browser application 1131 executing on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130).

In some embodiments, presenting the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application may includepresenting the first hosted browser graphics in a first tab of a localbrowser application, and presenting the second hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the additional instance of the hosted virtual browserapplication may include presenting the second hosted browser graphics ina second tab of the local browser application different from the firsttab of the local browser application. For example, in presenting thefirst hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browserapplication (e.g., hosted browser application 1131 executing onvirtualization server infrastructure 1130), user computing device 1110may present the first hosted browser graphics in a first tab of a localbrowser application (e.g., a first tab of local browser application 1113executing on user computing device 1110). In addition, presenting thesecond hosted browser graphics generated by the additional instance ofthe hosted virtual browser application (e.g., the additional instance ofhosted browser application 1131 executing on virtualization serverinfrastructure 1130), user computing device 1110 may present the secondhosted browser graphics in a second tab of the local browser application(e.g., a second tab of local browser application 1113 executing on usercomputing device 1110) different from the first tab of the local browserapplication.

In some embodiments, presenting the second hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the additional instance of the hosted virtual browserapplication may include maintaining a first stack of browsingtransitions associated with first browsing activity in the first tab ofthe local browser application and maintaining a second stack of browsingtransitions associated with second browsing activity in the second tabof the local browser application. For example, in presenting the secondhosted browser graphics generated by the additional instance of thehosted virtual browser application (e.g., hosted browser application1131 executing on virtualization server infrastructure 1130), usercomputing device 1110 may maintain a first stack of browsing transitionsassociated with first browsing activity in the first tab of the localbrowser application and may maintain a second stack of browsingtransitions associated with second browsing activity in the second tabof the local browser application. User computing device 1110 maymaintain such stacks of transitions similar to how user computing device1110 may maintain a stack of transitions as in the examples discussedabove.

At step 1222, user computing device 1110 may receive a request for athird uniform resource locator. For example, at step 1222, usercomputing device 1110 may receive a request to open a third uniformresource locator. Such a request may, for instance, correspond to and/orbe included in user input received from a user of user computing device1110. In some instances, user computing device 1110 may receive arequest to open the third uniform resource locator in a new tabdifferent from the tabs in which the hosted graphics associated with thefirst uniform resource locator and/or the hosted graphics associatedwith the second uniform resource locator are presented. Additionally oralternatively, user computing device 1110 may track content displayed onand/or browsing transitions between different tabs of the local browserexecuted on user computing device 1110.

At step 1223, user computing device 1110 may determine that the thirduniform resource locator is natively supported. For example, at step1223, user computing device 1110 may determine that the third uniformresource locator is natively supported based on one or more policiesand/or other information maintained and/or determined by user computingdevice 1110. At step 1224, user computing device 1110 may access thethird uniform resource locator. For example, at step 1224, based ondetermining that the third uniform resource locator is nativelysupported, user computing device 1110 may access the third uniformresource locator using a local browser application (e.g., local browserapplication 1113). In accessing the third uniform resource locator, usercomputing device 1110 may, for instance, natively open and presentcontent associated with the third uniform resource locator. For example,in accessing the third uniform resource locator, user computing device1110 may display and/or otherwise present a graphical user interfacesimilar to graphical user interface 1400, which is illustrated in FIG.14. As seen in FIG. 14, graphical user interface 1400 may include userinterface elements, controls, and/or other content associated with alocal browser application (e.g., tab listing, back button, forwardbutton, and/or other elements) and also native browser graphics renderedby the local browser application on user computing device 1110 anddisplayed by the local browser application on user computing device1110.

FIG. 15 depicts an example method of integrating a virtual browser intoa native browser and native web applications in accordance with one ormore illustrative aspects described herein. Referring to FIG. 15, atstep 1505, a computing device having at least one processor, acommunication interface, and a memory may receive a request to open afirst uniform resource locator. At step 1510, the computing device maydetermine that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported. At step 1515, based on determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported, the computing device maylaunch a hosted virtual browser application in a virtual session hostedby a virtualization server. At step 1520, the computing device mayreceive, via the communication interface, from the virtualizationserver, first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application, and the first hosted browser graphics generated bythe hosted virtual browser application may include content associatedwith the first uniform resource locator. At step 1525, the computingdevice may present the first hosted browser graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application.

As illustrated above, various aspects of the disclosure relate tointegrating a virtual browser into a native browser and native webapplications. Although the subject matter has been described in languagespecific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to beunderstood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are described assome example implementations of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computing device comprising: at least oneprocessor; a communication interface communicatively coupled to the atleast one processor; and memory storing computer-readable instructionsthat, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computingdevice to: receive a request to open a first uniform resource locator;determine that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported; based on determining that the first uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported, launch a hosted virtual browserapplication in a virtual session hosted by a virtualization server,wherein launching the hosted virtual browser application in the virtualsession hosted by the virtualization server comprises establishing aconnection to the virtualization server, authenticating with thevirtualization server using one or more cached authenticationcredentials, and commanding the virtualization server to launch aninstance of the hosted virtual browser application in the virtualsession hosted by the virtualization server, and wherein authenticatingwith the virtualization server using the one or more cachedauthentication credentials comprises authenticating with thevirtualization server using at least one cached single sign-on (SSO)credential linked to an enterprise user account; receive, via thecommunication interface, from the virtualization server, first hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application,the first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application comprising content associated with the first uniformresource locator; and present the first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application.
 2. The computingdevice of claim 1, wherein determining that the first uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported comprises determining that the firstuniform resource locator is natively unsupported based on at least oneenterprise policy defining one or more natively unsupported uniformresource locators.
 3. The computing device of claim 1, whereindetermining that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported comprises determining that the first uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported based on detecting a failure to load oneor more elements associated with the first uniform resource locator. 4.The computing device of claim 1, wherein determining that the firstuniform resource locator is natively unsupported comprises determiningthat the first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported based onidentifying that the first uniform resource locator corresponds to astub application associated with a hosted web application.
 5. Thecomputing device of claim 1, wherein presenting the first hosted browsergraphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application comprisesmaintaining a stack of browsing transitions associated with browsingactivity.
 6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the memory storesadditional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the computing device to: prior to receivingthe request to open the first uniform resource locator: receive, via thecommunication interface, from an enterprise server, one or moreenterprise policies, the one or more enterprise policies comprising atleast one enterprise policy defining one or more natively unsupporteduniform resource locators; and store the one or more enterprise policiesfor enforcement on the computing device by at least one policymanagement agent.
 7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the memorystores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed bythe at least one processor, cause the computing device to: prior toreceiving the request to open the first uniform resource locator:authenticate a user of the computing device; and based on authenticatingthe user of the computing device, cache one or more authenticationcredentials associated with the user of the computing device.
 8. Thecomputing device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores additionalcomputer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the computing device to: receive input interacting withthe first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application and presented by the computing device; send, via thecommunication interface, to the virtualization server, the inputinteracting with the first hosted browser graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application and presented by the computingdevice; receive, via the communication interface, from thevirtualization server, updated hosted browser graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application; and present the updated hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application. 9.The computing device of claim 8, wherein receiving the input interactingwith the first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application and presented by the computing device comprisesupdating a stack of browsing transitions based on the input interactingwith the first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application and presented by the computing device.
 10. Thecomputing device of claim 1, wherein the memory stores additionalcomputer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the computing device to: receive a request to open asecond uniform resource locator; determine that the second uniformresource locator is natively unsupported; based on determining that thesecond uniform resource locator is natively unsupported, launch anadditional instance of the hosted virtual browser application in thevirtual session hosted by the virtualization server; receive, via thecommunication interface, from the virtualization server, second hostedbrowser graphics generated by the additional instance of the hostedvirtual browser application, the second hosted browser graphicscomprising content associated with the second uniform resource locator;and present the second hosted browser graphics generated by theadditional instance of the hosted virtual browser application.
 11. Thecomputing device of claim 10, wherein presenting the first hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser applicationcomprises presenting the first hosted browser graphics in a first tab ofa local browser application, and wherein presenting the second hostedbrowser graphics generated by the additional instance of the hostedvirtual browser application comprises presenting the second hostedbrowser graphics in a second tab of the local browser applicationdifferent from the first tab of the local browser application.
 12. Thecomputing device of claim 11, wherein presenting the second hostedbrowser graphics generated by the additional instance of the hostedvirtual browser application comprises maintaining a first stack ofbrowsing transitions associated with first browsing activity in thefirst tab of the local browser application and maintaining a secondstack of browsing transitions associated with second browsing activityin the second tab of the local browser application.
 13. The computingdevice of claim 10, wherein the memory stores additionalcomputer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the computing device to: receive a request to open athird uniform resource locator; determine that the third uniformresource locator is natively supported; and based on determining thatthe third uniform resource locator is natively supported, access thethird uniform resource locator using a local browser application.
 14. Amethod, comprising: at a computing device comprising at least oneprocessor, memory, and a communication interface: receiving, by the atleast one processor, a request to open a first uniform resource locator;determining, by the at least one processor, that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported; based on determining that thefirst uniform resource locator is natively unsupported, launching, bythe at least one processor, a hosted virtual browser application in avirtual session hosted by a virtualization server, wherein launching thehosted virtual browser application in the virtual session hosted by thevirtualization server comprises establishing a connection to thevirtualization server, authenticating with the virtualization serverusing one or more cached authentication credentials, and commanding thevirtualization server to launch an instance of the hosted virtualbrowser application in the virtual session hosted by the virtualizationserver, and wherein authenticating with the virtualization server usingthe one or more cached authentication credentials comprisesauthenticating with the virtualization server using at least one cachedsingle sign-on (SSO) credential linked to an enterprise user account;receiving, by the at least one processor, via the communicationinterface, from the virtualization server, first hosted browser graphicsgenerated by the hosted virtual browser application, the first hostedbrowser graphics generated by the hosted virtual browser applicationcomprising content associated with the first uniform resource locator;and presenting, by the at least one processor, the first hosted browsergraphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein determining that the first uniform resourcelocator is natively unsupported comprises determining that the firstuniform resource locator is natively unsupported based on at least oneenterprise policy defining one or more natively unsupported uniformresource locators.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining thatthe first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported comprisesdetermining that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported based on detecting a failure to load one or more elementsassociated with the first uniform resource locator.
 17. The method ofclaim 14, wherein determining that the first uniform resource locator isnatively unsupported comprises determining that the first uniformresource locator is natively unsupported based on identifying that thefirst uniform resource locator corresponds to a stub applicationassociated with a hosted web application.
 18. The method of claim 14,wherein presenting the first hosted browser graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application comprises maintaining a stack ofbrowsing transitions associated with browsing activity.
 19. The methodof claim 14, comprising: prior to receiving the request to open thefirst uniform resource locator: receiving, by the at least oneprocessor, via the communication interface, from an enterprise server,one or more enterprise policies, the one or more enterprise policiescomprising at least one enterprise policy defining one or more nativelyunsupported uniform resource locators; and storing, by the at least oneprocessor, the one or more enterprise policies for enforcement on thecomputing device by at least one policy management agent.
 20. One ormore non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that,when executed by a computing device comprising at least one processor,memory, and a communication interface, cause the computing device to:receive a request to open a first uniform resource locator; determinethat the first uniform resource locator is natively unsupported; basedon determining that the first uniform resource locator is nativelyunsupported, launch a hosted virtual browser application in a virtualsession hosted by a virtualization server, wherein launching the hostedvirtual browser application in the virtual session hosted by thevirtualization server comprises establishing a connection to thevirtualization server, authenticating with the virtualization serverusing one or more cached authentication credentials, and commanding thevirtualization server to launch an instance of the hosted virtualbrowser application in the virtual session hosted by the virtualizationserver, and wherein authenticating with the virtualization server usingthe one or more cached authentication credentials comprisesauthenticating with the virtualization server using at least one cachedsingle sign-on (SSO) credential linked to an enterprise user account;receive, via the communication interface, from the virtualizationserver, first hosted browser graphics generated by the hosted virtualbrowser application, the first hosted browser graphics generated by thehosted virtual browser application comprising content associated withthe first uniform resource locator; and present the first hosted browsergraphics generated by the hosted virtual browser application.